Oz B.O. Revs Up 11% In Record 1990

Australian b.o. revenues hiked 11.8% in 1990 to a record $A270.24 million.

Admissions jumped 11.7% from 36.63 million to 40.9 million, representing an average 2.4 admissions per person. Mark Gailey, new chairman of the Motion Picture Distributors Assn. of Australia and m.d. at UIP, calls it an “extremely healthy” result.

Gailey discounts the notion that increases in ticket prices (top city tag is now $A11) have inflated the result. Although city prices have risen, he notes suburban multiplexes charge lower prices and offer discounts; the distrib group caclulates that 1990’s average ticket price rose only 1¢ to $A6.61.

Multiplex growth and more flexible screen programming, however, are boosting business. Revenue breakdowns still were being compiled, but suburban business was up 31.46% by Sept. 26, while city returns had dropped about 5%. List of 10 top pics for 1990 also was still in preparation.